Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-30
Establishm'ts Av. No.

In 1887 there were, according to the best
information obtainable, S53 strikes, the de-
tails of which are-not available. The report
shows that during the six years New York
had the largest number of establishments af-
fected both by strikes and lockouts, being
for the former 9,247 and for the latter ,523.
The building trades furnished 5000 of the
total establishments engaged. The total
number of employees involved for the entire
period was ,3lS,624. Number of employees
originating strikes, l,020,S32. Number in all
the establishments before the strikes occurred
l ,662 ,045, while the number employed in the
establishments involved after the strikes was
| 636, ,247, loss of 5,79S. There were
1903 ,03S new employees engaged after the
strikes, 81 ,4s3 brought from other places.
In 2,lS2 establishments where lockouts were
ordered during this period there were l73, ,995
employees before the lockouts and 1863, ,436
after the lockouts; the number actually
locked out was l59 ,54S. There were 1896
new employes secured at the close of the
lockouts, 1852 being brought from other
places.
New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts,,
Ohio and Illinois represent 74.74 per cent of
the whole number of establishments affected
by strikes throughout the contry and $3.50
per cent of all the manufacturing establish
ments, and employ 5S per cent of the capital
invested in the mechanical industries of the
United States.
Of the 22 1886 establishments in which
strikes have occurred, 1892 or S2.l2 per
cent strikes ordered by labor organizations,
while of 2l95 establishments in which lock-
outs occurred, 1854, or Su.34 per cent were
ordered by combinations of managers. Of
the whole number of establishments tempo
rarily closed for business, l3, ,443, or 60.7
per cent were on account of strikes, on ac-
count of lock outs, 6260 per cent. The
average duration.o stoppage on account of
strikes was 23.l days, for lockouts, 2S days.
The results of strikes so far as gaining the
objects sought for are as follows:
Success followed in 10, 407 cases or 46. so per
cent of the whole, partial success in 1904,
or l3 As per cent of the whole, failures in
500 cases or 80 80 per cent of the whole.
BY lockouts, 564 establishments or 1856
per cent of the whole succeeded in gaining
their points; 100 or s.12 per cent. partly
succeeded; 1906 or $3.50 per cent. failed.
As to the cause or objects of the strikes,
increase of wages was the principal one
~ "A per cent. were other leading causes
for reduction of hours, 1915 per cent. Z;
against reduction of wages, 7.15 per cent.
for increase of wages and reduction of hours,
757 per cent; against increase of hours, so
per cent Total for ) leading causes, 1888
per cent. All the other causes, 22.l1 Dis
claiming an absolute accuracy of the report,
gives losses to employees and employers re-
sulting from strikes and lockouts as follows
Losses to strikers, during six years, SOL ,Sl6,-
1865. Loss to employers through lockouts,
Ss, l32,7l1. Total wage loss, S59,94s,sS
Average loss 50, ,435 to each establishment,
or nearly $40 to each striker. The assist
ance given strikers for the same period was
50 1926 ,057; to sufferers from lOckouts,
81, 705 ,23S. Total, S4,430, ,595. These
amounts are undoubtedly too low,
The employers losses through the strikes
are $50, 1872 ,653 through lockouts S3,432,
26l total amount involved by the establish
ments, S34, ,l64,9l4.
The chief burden of the strikes is borne by
ind trio viz